Paul Watson Seeks Asylum in France to Avoid Extradition Over Anti-Whaling Activism
Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, has requested political asylum in France to avoid possible extradition to Japan over charges related to his anti-whaling activism.
Watson, 73, has been held in Greenland since July after Japan issued an international arrest warrant for him, accusing him of damaging a Japanese vessel during a 2010 anti-whaling mission in the Antarctic.
If extradited to Japan and convicted, Watson could face up to 15 years in prison. He denies the charges, stating they are politically motivated due to his long-standing opposition to Japan’s whaling practices.
Watson’s Sea Shepherd Foundation has formally requested help from French President Emmanuel Macron, appealing to France’s global leadership in ocean conservation to assist in his asylum plea.
Japan's whaling practices, banned internationally in 1986 but still pursued under scientific pretext, have long been a target of Watson’s aggressive activism in the Southern Ocean.
Watson’s detention has been extended while Danish authorities review Japan's extradition request, leaving him in a state of isolation and uncertainty as the October 23 decision looms.
Sea Shepherd France has rallied in Watson’s defense, stressing his deep connection to France and its role in global marine conservation, hoping to secure his release from Greenland.
Paul Watson’s case highlights the ongoing tension between environmental activism and cultural claims over whaling, sparking global debates on conservation and human rights.